ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, March 10, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) --
- Revolutionary Flexpoint system launched - Maximum control without loss of power
Europe's top tennis equipment manufacturer Head has been on a roll since 1997 thanks to successive generations of revolutionary racquet technologies. New racquet developments from Titanium through Intelligence to Liquidmetal have made Head the technology leader in the tennis business. The company generated $85 million in racquet revenues in 2004. It has been the European market leader for several years now, and is the U.S. and global number two.
Head's willingness to innovate knows no limits, and this year the company once again takes the lead with its new HEAD Flexpoint technology.
Two precisely engineered control holes break all the rules of traditional racquet design. With this new design the HEAD Flexpoint system offers an increased flexibility which changes the playing characteristics of the racquets significantly and that delivers maximum ball control, without any loss of power. The HEAD Flexpoint racquets responds to ball impact like the human hand since they 'cup' the ball and as they noticeably lengthen the contact time between ball and strings. This new technology is suitable for players of all ability levels, from beginners to pros.
Andre Agassi is a strong believer in leading-edge Head technology, and has been playing with the HEAD Flexpoint Radical Oversize since the start of this year. "The racquet is really much better than I had expected. I can hit harder and feel I have superior control over the ball."
Apart from Andre Agassi, other international top players such as Marat Safin, Anastasia Myskina and Svetlana Kusnetsova also endorse Head racquets. "And they are increasingly successful resulting in several Grand Slam tournament victories within the last twelve months," commented Robert Marte, HEAD Division Manager Racquet Sports. "New to our team is Juan Carlos Ferrero, who was so excited about the new HEAD Flexpoint racquets that he switched to Head in the autumn of 2004," he noted.
HEAD is launching this new racquet technology, that will revolutionize the world of tennis again, with more than 400 key retailers and distributors from around the world at a major event in Mallorca/Spain this weekend. Based on the positive feedback received from international key accounts during early previews of the new technology Head is expecting to sell over 300,000 Flexpoint racquets in the first year, for revenues of approx. $30 million.
Flexpoint racquets will be available in the shops in the U.S. and Japan at the beginning of April, and will be offered in Europe from the start of May.
About Head
Head N.V. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium sports equipment. Its operations are organized in four divisions: Winter Sports, Racquet Sports, Diving and Licensing. Head N.V. sells under the following brands: Head (tennis, squash and racquet sports, alpine skis and ski boots, snowboarding boards, bindings and boots); Penn (tennis and racquetball balls); Tyrolia (alpine ski bindings); and Mares/Dacor (diving equipment).
For further details visit: www.head.com
For further information please contact: Head Sport AG Robert Marte Division Manager Racquet Sports Wuhrkopfweg 1 A-6921 Kennelbach Tel: +43 (0)5574 608-0 E-mail: r.marte@head.com Robert Summer Int. Advertising Manager Racquet Sports Division Wuhrkopfweg 1 A-6921 Kennelbach Tel: +43 (0)5574 608-358 E-mail: r.summer@head.com
Statements contained in this presentation may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In connection with such forward-looking statements, you should be aware that our actual results might vary materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
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